A wide-reaching review of special education provision in Devon could see cuts to services at some schools, but recommends increasing provision around North Devon, Exeter, Tiverton and Newton Abbot.

Agenda papers released ahead of next Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting revealed that Devon County Council are planning on consulting on the closure of five resource bases in school across the county, as well as reducing support at a sixth, due to lack of demand.

But the 2017-18 SEND Strategic Review and Development Plan that is due to be endorsed does say that discussions are ongoing with the Governing Body of Marland School to bring forward proposals to expand Marland Day provision in North Devon, a proposal to increase Special School provision at Charlton Lodge in Tiverton, support new special school provision in Newton Abbot, Glendinning Special School and develop proposals at the new amalgamated Ratcliffe / Oakland School in Dawlish to increase capacity and develop proposals to support post16 learners.

Read More

The report says: “The Plan highlights the review undertaken on Resource Bases within Devon’s schools to ensure they are meeting the needs of Devon learners and represent good value for money. It can be seen that due to low numbers, little or no parental preference and the intention to support learners in their local schools there is no longer demand for some centres.”

The consultation proposals are:

Speech and Language at Orchard Vale Primary, Barnstaple. Consult on Closure 2019 as there are no children currently on roll and lack of parental choice/preference due to location. Equity of provision and need to support learners in local school rather than bespoke centre.

Speech & Language at Newtown Primary, Exeter. Consult on Closure 2019 due to lack of demand and equity of provision, in particular parent’s concerns of travel distance for KS1 students. Services to support children in their local school being developed

Specific Learning Difficulties at Queen Elizabeth Community College, Crediton. Consult on Closure 2019 due to equity of service as only students in locality have benefitted from provision. Staff now providing outreach through Babcock.

Hearing Impairment at East-the-Water Primary, Bideford. Consult on Closure 2019 due to lack of demand, advisory teacher element of service incorporated into Babcock service, and no children currently attending

Hearing Impairment at Bideford College, Bideford. Consult on Closure 2019 due to lack of demand and no children attending centre

Hearing Impairment at Clyst Vale Community College, Broadclyst. Consult on reduced numbers and increased offer to support MultiSensory as lack of demand for Hearing Impairment together with need to provide more multi-sensory services, outreach for Hearing Impairment managed through Babcock, and equity of service

But it adds: “The Plan provides the evidence to increase provision to support students with Social Emotional and Mental Health needs. Discussions are ongoing with the Governing Body of Marland School, a Trust School, and they are able to bring forward proposals to expand Marland Day provision in North Devon and extend the age to support primary aged students. The final decision, following the consultation, will sit with the Local Authority.

Read More

“The Plan confirms the proposal to increase Special School provision at Charlton Lodge in Tiverton. There are ongoing discussions with existing special school providers regarding the potential delivery model for that provision. However, it may be there is a need to bring in a new provider via a presumption Free School proposal and therefore an approval to commence this process may be brought forward early in the Spring.

Proposals within the plan are targeted at providing, where possible, local provision for local children as well as support students become independent and into employment.”

But the plan adds: “Feedback from consultations supported data which indicated that a small number of pupils have to travel considerable distances to attend school. It also highlighted the extent to which pupils attend the school of their choice. The development of provision especially in Tiverton and Newton Abbot responds to future housing projections and will provide additional capacity for more localised services. Further developments in other areas e.g. North & South Devon will also be developed.

Read More

“The majority of respondents reported that they enjoy going to school and provided detailed insight in to what works well. Feedback indicated there was room for improvement particularly in respect of providing learning opportunities in the community, providing challenge, raising aspiration and ambition and ensuring pupils have an understanding of their progress in learning.

“It is recommended that further work be done to better understand the needs and offer particularly in respect of those children & young people with social, emotional and mental health needs and those young people post 19.”

Further recommendations are for a need to increase Special School provision including provision in North Devon, Marland Day and Barley Lane in Exeter, new/additional special school provision needs to be operational in Tiverton (Charlton Lodge) for September 2019, strategically support new special school provision in Newton Abbot, Glendinning Special School, develop proposals at the new amalgamated Ratcliffe / Oakland School, as well as a detailed review of learners where Special Schools cannot meet needs is undertaken alongside the high cost learners in the independent sector to develop alternative commissioning solutions as well as ensuring new provision can meet the gaps in current provision.